ALBUM REVIEW: Household Name – Momma
Picture the scene. You’re driving down the motorway with your friends. It’s a hot summers day. You have the windows rolled down (and the roof if you have a convertible car), and the music is blasting. What would be your summer soundtrack? Would it be early 00s emo greatest hits? The newest alternative indie band? Or would it be something right in the middle? If the answer is the latter, then MOMMA might be for you. The indie rock band from California have released two albums already: 2018’s Interloper, and 2020’s Two Of Me, both quite sensibly during the summer, and now they return with a third, entitled Household Name.
From the moment Rip Off starts, it is clear that this band is something different in the best way. The introduction to the song is a unique collection of different instruments that are not often used in alternative music, including shakers. The gentle acoustic guitar quickly transitions into a funky bassline. It might not sound very exciting on paper, and it technically shouldn’t work. But it does, in all the right ways.
Despite the gentle singing, the riffs are quite heavy on this album. Guaranteed, they’re not the heaviest thing ever, but the contrast between them is a fun quirk that makes MOMMA extra special. However, the best thing about them is how they please everyone. Whether you love indie music, emo music, or rock music, there is something for you here. You could imagine this being played on someone’s speakers at the local park as you meet friends or during the wait for a live band. Take the song Rockstar for instance. It is certainly heavier than the previous songs, with guitar riffs that wouldn’t sound out of place on a rock record. MOMMA sound like an entirely different band on this one, but that’s not a bad thing because it shows that they are willing to go outside of their comfort zone.
Another thing MOMMA have done is sing songs solo, instead of together, and also look inwards and use their own lives as inspiration. Take the song Motorbike, in which singer and co-founder Allegra Weingarten sings solo. It’s about a fantasy relationship because the real one is dire. On the other side of the coin, there’s Lucky, in which singer and co-founder Etta Friedman sings about how lucky they are to be in love. The dreamy, upbeat tempo of that song makes it one of the album’s highlights.
Some people might be worried that having too many genres would muck up an album’s pacing. However, it is clear that MOMMA are confident in their sound, as the album’s pacing is brilliant. The songs flow nicely together, whether that is the indie rock of Tall Home or the pop-rock of Brave. The production on the album is fantastic, and really helps the record flow.
In conclusion, Household Name is an ideal album not just for summer, but for every weather and occasion. Feeling heartbroken? There’s a song for that. Feeling in love? There’s a song for that. Feeling lost? You get the picture. There’s a song for every occasion. MOMMA have proven themselves worthy of being one of the most unique bands out there. They could very well become household names themselves. This album is fun, dreamy, harsh, and so outside the box. The pacing flows well, and the production is excellent. If you’re looking for the perfect album to blast whilst driving down the motorway this summer, then Household Name is the one.
Rating: 9/10
Household Name is set for release on July 1st via Lucky Number.
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